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Image receiver media and printing processImage receiver media and printing process description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070181253, Image receiver media and printing process. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] Applicant claims the benefit of Application No. 60/765,446 filed Feb. 3, 2006. [0002] Applicant claims the benefit of Application No. 60/790,886 filed Apr. 11, 2006. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to printing methods generally, and is more specifically directed to materials and a process of printing onto transfer medium, and subsequently transferring an image from the transfer medium to a substrate. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Transfer media are receivers for print media from which an image is subsequently transferred. Transfer media are commonly rectangular sheets in sizes such as A4 upon which one or more materials are coated. The transfer media may include a release layer that encourages release of the image to the substrate during transfer. The materials coated on the transfer media may be binder materials that bond the image to the final substrate upon which the image is to appear, which may be a textile. [0005] Transfer media, such as thermal transfer paper, can transfer a heat-melt image to a final substrate such as cotton, with the binder materials from the transfer sheet holding the image layer on the final substrate. The binder materials from the entire sheet are transferred, and not just the binder materials that are associated with the image. The transferred binder material that is applied to the final substrate beyond the imaged area is very stiff to the touch, and is visible to the naked eye. [0006] The use of computer technology allows substantially instantaneous printing of images. For example, video cameras or scanners 30 may be used to capture a color image on a computer 20. Images created or stored on a computer may be printed on command, without regard to run size. The image may be printed onto substrates from the computer by any suitable printing means capable of printing in multiple colors, including mechanical thermal printers, ink jet printers 24 and electrophotographic or electrostatic printers. [0007] Computers and digital printers are inexpensive, and transfers of photographs and computer generated images may be made to T-shirts and other articles. These transfers may be produced by end users at home, as well as commercial establishments. For example, a digital image is printed on thermal transfer medium by an ink jet printer. The image is transferred from the thermal transfer paper by the application of heat, using an iron for clothing, or a heat press intended to accomplish such transfers. [0008] Gross coverage of the transfer medium with the binder materials does not match the coverage of the image to be printed upon it. The material or materials are applied to the substrate of the transfer medium over the general area to which the image layer formed by the inks is to be applied. Application of the binder material on this substrate is typically performed during a manufacturing process, such as by spraying the material on the sheet which forms the substrate for the transfer medium. [0009] To achieve sufficient coverage of the binder materials on the transfer medium, the area of the sheet that is covered with the surface coating material is larger than the area that will be covered by the ink layer that forms the image. The binder materials extend from and beyond the margins of the image after the image is applied to the substrate and are transferred to the final substrate. The binder materials can be seen on the final substrate with the naked eye as they surround the image, usually appearing as a rectangle that is beyond the edges of the image. The excess binder material reduces the aesthetic quality of the printed image on the substrate. Further, the non-imaged materials that are transferred tend to yellow with age, which is undesirable, particularly on white and other light colored substrates. Yellowing is accelerated with laundering (sometimes called re-deposition) and other exposure to heat, chemicals or sunlight. [0010] Images transferred from thermal transfer sheets to textiles depreciate over time. The thermal transfer paper technology only creates a temporary bond between the transfer materials and the final substrate. This bond is not durable when repeatedly laundered. An improvement in the durability of this image is needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] This invention is a process of printing or forming a resist layer over an area of a printed transfer medium that is covered with binders or other materials, but is not covered by a printed image. The layer resists transfer to the final substrate of binder materials and other materials of the transfer medium that are not covered with the printed image. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is exemplary of a hardware system that may be used to practice the method of the invention. [0013] FIG. 2a is a transfer medium that may be used to receive a printed image according to the invention. [0014] FIG. 2b shows the transfer medium of FIG. 2a receiving a printed image. [0015] FIG. 2c shows the transfer medium of FIG. 2b receiving a resist layer that is printed over the non-imaged areas of the transfer medium. [0016] FIG. 2d shows the image being transferred from the transfer medium of FIG. 2a to a final substrate, with the non-imaged areas of the transfer medium remaining with the substrate. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a computer-designed image is first digitally printed to a transfer medium, which may be a thermal transfer paper. After the resist layer is printed, the portion of the transfer paper that is covered with binders or other materials, but is not imaged, is printed with a resist layer. After the image is printed, a higher temperature is applied from the back of the transfer medium, preferably under pressure, to transfer the image from the transfer medium to a final substrate. The heat may simultaneously activate the image, and/or react components and bond and/or cross-link the final substrate and the colorants. The image is bonded to the substrate, and excellent durability can be achieved for the final design image that appears on the final substrate. Appropriate pressure is applied during the transfer process to ensure the proper surface contact between the medium and the final substrate. The binder materials that are present on the transfer medium that are not covered with an image are not transferred to the final substrate, since the resist layer prevents substantial transfer, or bonding of these materials, to the final substrate. [0018] In one embodiment, the resist layer is formed of inorganic materials. The resist layer may be formed of a material comprising silica or alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) and isopropyl alcohol. The resist layer is formed in one embodiment by printing the materials on the non-imaged areas of the transfer medium that have the binders and/or materials present, using an ink jet printer. Printing of the resist layer may be performed while the transfer sheet is in the printer and substantially at the same time that the image is printed on the transfer medium. The resist layer and image are allowed to dry if wet, and the transfer medium is positioned with the image against the final substrate. The image is transferred to the final substrate. The resist layer deters the polymer film or other bonding material previously coated or printed or otherwise applied to the transfer medium from mechanically attaching to a final substrate, such as a cotton T-shirt. The image is present on the final substrate. Materials on the transfer medium that serve to release the image from the transfer medium or to bond the image to the final substrate, and are not imaged, are not transferred to the final substrate. [0019] When a single digital imaging device is used for the application of both color imaging materials and resist layer, the transfer medium receives the printed resist layer and imaging materials without altering their relative physical position to the device, and high resolution image quality may be achieved. In one embodiment, the two types of ink or toner are applied through different ink/toner cartridges or printing channels of the same device, yielding excellent image resolution and allowing the use of complex dithering software or firmware control in such applications. Extremely fine image lines, for example, of binder material, along with color ink or toner, can be produced that are limited in quality only by the resolution of the imaging device, and which cannot typically be matched by conventional analog printing methods. Continue reading about Image receiver media and printing process... Full patent description for Image receiver media and printing process Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Image receiver media and printing process patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Image receiver media and printing process or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Use of a hotmelt adhesive, pasty fixation compound for micro devices and detector for detecting ionizing radiation Next Patent Application: Plasma processing apparatus with resonance countermeasure function Industry Class: Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Image receiver media and printing process patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14441 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
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